Murderball (2005)

It's nice when a movie teaches you something about yourself. It's better, though, when a movie reminds you about things that you failed to consider. My ignorance towards the burdens of quadriplegics derives not from lack of compassion, but from the fact that I've never not considered being able to walk. Or tie my shoes. Or wipe my ass. Or play rugby. These things we take for granted because we have to, because our lives are not about them. But what happens when they're taken away? There's a moment in the film where Keith, a newly paralyzed individual, struggles just to sit upright on the hospital bed. His courage astounds me; I sat there knowing that suicide would probably cross my mind. Reducing my life to those struggles terrified me, and that was when I realized the film is not about "murderball".

No. The film wants to talk about these people and their daily struggles with the things we take for granted. Watching Bob Lujano (no arms or legs) do the dishes and pour himself a glass of water is incredible; extraordinary feats become their routine. In that case, quad rugby is nothing special. All it does is let them get involved in something normal. It evens the playing field for them; no one watches in sympathy. They watch in awe.

To be honest, the most boring moments of the film are the game scenes. I waited through these to hear more about their stories. Zupan has become the main image of the film, and for good reason. His ruggedness surprises us, because our social reaction is to reach out to these people and give them pity. But why? Apart from the chairs they sit in, they're extremely normal. Average, even. They have the same interests as regular guys; pussy, beer, and chatting with their friends. It's surprising to see so much character in a person like Zupan. What's even more surprising is his backstory behind why he's in the chair. This might be the most sincere portion of the film, and the results of it are heartwarming.

I did not expect to cry in this movie. But there is a moment with a father and son that shows the hardships these people have faced and overcome with love and compassion. The lessons learned in this do not have anythign to do with sports. Sure, we want them to win, but we know they've already won. They're still rolling along. They're still smiling. Life goes on.